Asthma Support Group
Asthma is a disease of the human respiratory system where the airways narrow, often in response to a "trigger" such as exposure to an allergen, cold air, exercise, or emotional stress. This airway narrowing causes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which respond to bronchodilators.
I have severe asthma. I use my nebulizer, with Duoneb, three times per day. I also have albuterol for the nebulizer, prn. I only use that once or twice a day when I'm home and don't need to bother with the rescue inhaler albuterol. I also take Advair 500 and Singulair (I have very severe asthma-drs. don't know what's causing it, some type of allergy or possibly that I had pneumonia back in December and that exacerbated my symptoms. Tests were inconclusive, but I can tell you anxiety is a contributing factor.) Does anyone else here use their nebulizer this often or use Duoneb? Duoneb is the only thing that seems to help my symptoms. The Singulair doesn't seem to be doing anything.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
This is the exact situation I find myself in every year.
I wind up using the nebulizer with Duoneb, the only thing that works, about every 4-6 hours, day and night. This could go on for months.
And yes, I, too, believe Singulair does absolutely nothing for severe asthma and is not the way to go. (There are other drugs being developed that I believe will eventually replace this, but who the hell knows when?).
Are you on steroids? If not, ask about this. Also ask about an allergy med such as Zyrtec as these meds work by reducing inflammation as well as Mucinex if there is a lot of mucus involved.
This type of asthma takes a long time to get under control and could be an issue for months.
I ahve very severe asthma too and am on 2hrly nebs most of the time. Have you considered nebulised steriod inhaler. i find at night i have been able to reduce my nebuliser use to evrry three hourse since using pulmicort in my neb.
I also find that i dont really know what singulair is actually doing as i dont notice a difference when i do or dont take it. although i do take it all the time now as my meds are in a medimax case prepared by the chmist to make it easier for me.
I hope your chest settles.
olive
My peak flows in the mornings, before the meds, are in the 350 range. By afternoon, after the Duoneb and Advair, I'm usually up to 450 or above. At night, right before bed, I'm around 410. Not sure if this indicates my asthma is under control or not, but I guess it shows the Duoneb is working.
I agree about the steroids and side effects but sometimes they are needed and useful short-term. Ask abouta methylpred pack which is a package containing a week's worth of very low-dose steroids (actually the dose is too low for me) which your doctor might agree with.
Other than this, it seems you are on as much as possible. No, the asthma is not under control with fluctuating numbers like that but yes, the Duoneb is working so keep using it. Again, expect that this will take a long time to clear.
Is it in tablet form the methlypred you guys get??
olive